Iowa Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Iowa take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, and Iowa state income tax. Enter your gross pay, filing status, and pre-tax deductions to see your net pay per paycheck.
2026 rate, standard deduction, and personal exemption verified against Tax Foundation 2026 data.
- Take-home$52,549.30 · 80.85%
- Federal tax$5,620.00 · 8.65%
- Social Security + Medicare$4,972.50 · 7.65%
- Iowa tax$1,858.20 · 2.86%
| Item | Per bi-week | % of gross |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | 100% |
| Federal withholding | $216.15 | 8.65% |
| Social Security | $155.00 | 6.20% |
| Medicare | $36.25 | 1.45% |
| Iowa income tax | $71.47 | 2.86% |
| Take-home pay | $2,021.13 | 80.85% |
Living on a paycheck in Iowa
Iowa has simplified to a flat income tax of about 3.8%, a significant cut from its old graduated system. For workers in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and across the state, that means a low, uniform state rate and easy-to-predict take-home pay.
A flat rate combined with a healthy standard deduction shields a good portion of lower incomes from state tax. The calculator above reflects those rules in your net-pay estimate.
How Iowa taxes are withheld
Your Iowa paycheck has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) withheld, plus Iowa's flat 3.8% income tax on taxable income after the state standard deduction. Pre-tax contributions reduce both federal and Iowa taxable wages.
What shapes your take-home in Iowa
With a flat 3.8% rate, your federal filing status and pre-tax benefits shape most of your Iowa take-home pay. As an illustration, a single filer earning $75,000 might owe around $2,200 in Iowa income tax for the year after the standard deduction. Your exact figure appears above.
Getting the most from each paycheck in Iowa
Pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions trim both your federal and your 3.8% Iowa tax, so they are the most efficient route to more take-home pay. Review your federal W-4 and Iowa withholding after any income change to stay on target.
How Iowa taxes your paycheck
Iowa has a flat 3.8% state income tax. Use the calculator above to estimate your take-home pay after all withholdings.
Every US paycheck also has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to the annual wage base), and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on high earners) withheld. Your taxable income is your gross pay minus pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) and pre-tax health premiums.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is taken out of a paycheck in Iowa?
Iowa paychecks have federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) withheld, plus a flat 3.8% state income tax. The exact amount depends on your pay, filing status, and pre-tax deductions.
Does Iowa have a state income tax?
Yes. Iowa levies a flat 3.8% state income tax in addition to federal taxes.
How is this take-home estimate calculated?
It applies 2026 estimated federal brackets, FICA rates, state income-tax rates, local taxes where configured, and employee payroll-program rates to your annual pay minus pre-tax deductions, then divides by your pay frequency. It is a simplified estimate, not official payroll withholding.